The Old man was of the solid, unwavering opinion that the best way to save money was to fold it over and put it back in your pocket. He'd be 96 this coming year. I am beginning to think he might be right. Course he was sure you should be able to fill the back of a wagon with six months of groceries with the help of five bucks and good intentions. I don't remember seeing him in a wagon but I vividly remember the sheds full of old harnesses, weathered collars and broken wheels.

It can be done today if you take the time to beat the system. Start with coupons, those in your newspaper and the ones you get by printing them out. Get a box and separate them so you can get at them when you reach the cash register. It may take more than five dollars but allowing for inflation you sure as hell can fill the trunk.

If you want to eat out, get online and see how many free certificates that restaurant has offered. Just yesterday when looking for FREE goodies to celebrate our daugher's boy we found: free Ice cream at 31 Flavors, a free milkshake at Del Taco, a free chili dog at der Weinerschnitzel, and a buy one get the second Blizzard free at Dairy Queen.

If you decide to do your Christmas shopping online, you can get promotional codes for discounts by doing a simple search on Google. And never buy new tires at new prices. Look in the Sunday Sports section and you'll find them on sale someplace; if not there go to the want ads. My brother just picked up four tires for ten dollars from someone who wanted them out of the yard. They were carrying a half inch of tread.

Well you get the pictures cause you're in them.